Borges renews an old link as Costa Rica face Brazil

Celso Borges will follow in his father's footsteps on Friday when he plays for Costa Rica against Brazil as the family's World Cup odyssey against the five-time champions continues.

Borges' father, Alexandre Guimares, grew up in Brazil until he moved to Costa Rica with his parents when he was young. He would go on to both play for and manage the 'Ticos' against Brazil at the World Cup.

Now, 28 years after his father faced Brazil as a player at Italia 90, it is Celso's turn to put aside his strong family links to the South Americans in a vital World Cup game.

"I can't deny it, there is a connection, of course -- my connection to Brazil is maybe not as strong as my father's, but some part of me still feels like it belongs there," Borges told Reuters in an interview.

"I'm 100 percent Costa Rican and I would choose Costa Rica every time, but I cannot deny this family connection. It's just a very special feeling."

The feelings of his father, who managed Costa Rica in a 2-5 loss to Brazil at the 2002 World Cup, maybe slightly more mixed when his two nations face off on Friday, however.

"Of course my father feels Costa Rican, he left Brazil when he was 12, but he has that Brazilian part that is very intense in him," Borges said.

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